Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

JOHN FELSTED -- Canadians are resilient, strong, and never more so than when we unite in a time of crisis

Deadly rail disaster in Lac-Mégantic

When people see a crisis, disaster, or tragedy that could as easily happen in their community, they act. Tens of thousands of people step up to lend a helping hand, or offer condolences or donations as needed. They are Canada at its very finest.

We tend to take for granted how caring, generous and loving our neighbours are.

The current coronavirus crisis has made us realize how much we depend on our neighbours, friends, relatives, and even those we encounter in our day to day interactions. Collectively, they are an integral part of our lives. 

Most of us have a favourite barber, hair stylist, coffee shop and so on. It is not the space that attracts us, it is the personalities of the people we tune into.

We change gears when someone falls victim to accident, illness or injury. We are caring, compassionate and try to help if we can. There is a bit of the Good Samaritan built into our psyche. It is never more evident that how we respond to events far removed from us. The recent horror in Nova Scotia is an example.

Our first responders, fire, police and paramedics all rushed to the scene of reported gunfire with no idea of what risks might confront them. That is what they do, and why they are held in such high esteem. 

They confront chaos directly and work diligently until order is restored. The dead are respectfully removed and the injured are comforted and taken for medial treatment as fires are extinguished to keep others safe. Their efforts are inspiring.

As details become known, people across the nation took note and began looking for ways to help. 

Events in and around Portapique, N.S. are staggering in magnitude. The numbers who are left grieving are incredible. We have no way to relate to or understand pure evil, but we can and have shown our compassion as we can relate to those who grieve.

That is the core of Canada, the what and who we are as a society. The list of other incidents that have evoked a national response is awfully long. Besides Portapique, over the past two decades incidents that have tweaked our consciences and compassion include:



  • 2000 - Pine Lake tornado in Alberta
  • 2003 - SARS outbreak, Toronto
  • 2003 - McLure fire
  • 2008 - Listeriosis outbreak
  • 2009 - Cougar Helicopter Crash, Newfoundland
  • 2011 - Air Crash, Resolute Bay
  • 2011 - Claresholm highway massacre
  • 2011 - Slave Lake Wildfire
  • 2012 - Highway Crash, Perth, Ontario
  • 2013 - Lac-Mégantic rail disaster, Quebec
  • 2014 - L'Isle-Verte nursing home fire, Quebec
  • 2015 - Legionnaire's disease outbreak, Ontario
  • 2016 - Wildfires, Ft. McMurray, Alberta.
  • 2017 - British Columbia wildfires
  • 2018 - Eastern Canada heat wave
  • 2018 - Humboldt Broncos bus crash
  • 2018 - Toronto van attack
  • 2019 - Markham home massacre


The current Coronavirus / COVID-19 crisis and community response has been stellar. We grumble but heed advice from health care experts, isolate, stay home and social distance to protect others as well as ourselves. It has been a remarkable exercise in social discipline.

We cannot be made to stay home but we can be persuaded to do so for the common good – at least for a reasonable period. It highlights our compassion for others. We do not want to witness preventable illnesses and deaths.

Canadians are resilient, strong, and never more so than when we unite in a time of crisis. Despite our commitment to contain a virus, our humanity, instincts and ingenuity have found ways to reach out to friends and neighbours in distress.

That is the Canada I love and respect.


John Feldsted ... is a political commentator, consultant, and strategist.  He makes his home in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Labels:

Comments

  1. John TwiggApril 26, 2020 at 1:41 PM

    I guess you omitted the Toronto Danforth shootings of 2018 because only two people plus the shooter died and only 13 others were wounded? To me the intent in that event was not much different from Portapique.
    Also I could quibble with Megantic being in the list because it was negligence more than malice.
    Nonetheless yes the message must be that we need to be better at loving one another which of course is one of the two fundamental commandments in The Bible (Luke 10:27 and Matthew 22:37-40) to first Love God then second to Love your neighbour.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Alan ForsethApril 27, 2020 at 2:22 PM

    Good points John

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Interfor Moves Headquarters Out of BC as Forestry Crisis Continues

NDP policies are driving businesses out of B.C., and the forestry industry just suffered yet another calamity. Interfor, a BC company founded more than 60 years ago and now one of the world's largest lumber producers, is moving its headquarters from Burnaby, BC to Atlanta, Georgia. As BC’s forestry sector faces mill closures and mounting uncertainty, this move is another warning sign that the crisis is deepening and conditions are fatal. “This is the NDP’s record: endless job losses with no hope in sight for the forestry sector,” said Ward Stamer, Shadow Minister for Forestry. “Interfor still has three mills in BC which are now in serious jeopardy, and it is likely we will see even more companies pull out of BC. The NDP government is suffocating the forestry industry with high taxes, excessive regulations, and permitting delays, while DRIPA has made it impossible to plan for the future.” “Decisions like this are sadly not surprising given the NDP’s indifference if not hostility tow...
Post a Comment
Read more

Okanagan Farmers Face NDP-Created Water Crisis ~~ BC Conservatives

Okanagan farmers are facing a water crisis as government-imposed restrictions threaten to kill their crops and destroy one of B.C.’s most important agricultural industries. In perhaps the most water-rich province in the country, our farmers have been left high and dry by the NDP government. For nine weeks, Okanagan and Shuswap farmers have proposed solutions, only to be met with NDP foot-dragging. Now forest fires have come to these regions as they are simultaneously reckoning with a water crisis that has been made worse through years of government inaction. Vernon-area farms have lost 70 percent of their water, while Kelowna and Summerland growers face severe restrictions. This situation is unacceptable and cannot continue. Ian Paton, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, said the NDP is once again forcing farmers to pay for its own failure to plan. "Farmers and ranchers must be listened to when decisions affecting their livelihoods are made, and under the NDP, they aren’t," said...
Post a Comment
Read more

NDP Hypocritically Admits Natural Gas Power Was Needed All Along ~~ BC Conservatives

The NDP just got caught buying back the exact kind of power plant it spent years telling British Columbians they didn't need. The NDP government announced today that BC Hydro is purchasing the Island Generation natural gas facility in Campbell River, an admission that its electrification-only energy policy was never realistic. The 275-megawatt plant was originally privately owned yet kept to a minimal backup role under the NDP, operating just 15 days a year on average. Now, with demand outpacing what the NDP's plan can support, the government is spending taxpayer funds on the very gas capacity it once treated as obsolete. "You cannot electrify everything and pretend natural gas doesn't matter," said Larry Neufeld, Shadow Minister for Energy.  "Buying back a gas plant they once wrote off is proof their own plan couldn't keep the lights on. It's a step towards more energy reality, but the government needs to go further and scrap the impending province-w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more